San Francisco @ Chicago preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 12, 2013 ) San Francisco 3, Chi. Cubs 4

The Chicago Cubs’ closer situation continues to be a major cause for concern, and the San Francisco Giants might need to avoid going to their own closer for a day or two. Both teams will be trying to recover from blown saves when the Cubs host the Giants again on Saturday. Chicago has already removed Carlos Marmol from the ninth inning and has gotten some shaky performances from Kyuji Fujikawa since installing him in the role.

San Francisco has used Sergio Romo seven times in the first 11 games, including each of the first two games in the series at Wrigley Field. The World Series star finally had a letdown on Friday, when he failed to protect a one-run lead after the Giants had come back against Fujikawa. The Cubs enjoyed breakout games from David DeJesus and Starlin Castro in Friday’s 4-3 triumph, with each hitting a solo homer and Castro providing the walk-off double. Those two were hitting a combined .239 out of the top two spots in the lineup before going 5-for-10 with three RBIs on Friday.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FOX

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (2-0, 1.32 ERA) vs. Cubs RH Jeff Samardzija (1-1, 2.63)

Bumgarner struck out eight and did not walk a batter in eight scoreless innings during his first outing but struggled with his command in his second start on Monday, walking five while allowing two runs in 5 2/3 innings in a win over Colorado. The left-hander has been tough on Chicago with a 3-2 record and a 2.79 ERA in six career starts. Castro (8-for-18) and Alfonso Soriano (6-for-13 with a home run) have had the most success against Bumgarner.

Samardzija struck out nine in eight scoreless innings on Opening Day in Pittsburgh and followed that up with 13 punchouts in 5 2/3 frames at Atlanta on Sunday. The Braves did manage four runs, however, saddling the 28-year-old with the loss. Samardzija made his lone career start against San Francisco last season and surrendered two runs on seven hits in five innings without factoring in the decision. He owns a 2.53 ERA against the Giants in six career appearances.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants CF Angel Pagan has hit safely in seven straight games.

2. Soriano went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts on Friday to drop his batting average to .179.

3. Romo had not allowed a run in 13 straight appearances going back to last year’s postseason.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Cubs 2